STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - ALL SHORES - The rainy weather that swept through on Sept. 7 seemed a perfect time to talk to Ed Johnson about what happens to birds during a storm, like the menacing Hurricane Irene that hit New York City the last weekend of August.

Johnson, director of science at the Staten Island Museum leads a mid-week birding walk on alternate Wednesdays in different areas of Staten Island.

The most recent was in Clove Lakes Park. With fall migration just beginning, the park's woodlands, streams and fields are a good place to see early migrants, especially warblers.

A flock of chimney swifts provided an aerial display above the Martlings Avenue Bridge where we met. Described as a "cigar with wings," the bird flies continuously, often beating its crescent-shaped wings rapidly while it nabs insects.

Two human migrants joined the small group: Merle Frost of New Zealand and Yngvar Aanonsen of Norway. Both were visiting relatives in the borough.

What do the little birds do during a storm, such as Hurricane Irene, when there is not only rain, but winds to contend with, we asked Johnson?

"They hunker down and sit tight. They're not like humans. They are used to living in the elements," said Johnson.

We hadn't gone far down the path along the south side of Martlings when we happened upon some activity in the treetops. A Canada, Wilson's, redstart and a common yellow throat – all warblers – were seen. A kingfisher flew through and a great blue heron was wading in the shallows across the lake.

However, a heavy downpour put an end to avian activity for awhile; we walked upstream to the lake.

Fall and spring migration are active times, not only for birds but for birders, who have a chance to see species that pass through in the spring on their way to summer nesting grounds in the north or in the fall to their wintering habitat. These birds stop to rest and feed for the next leg of their journey. Birders are on the lookout for the first arrivals, the last to leave, numbers in general and unusual birds.

Hurricane Irene also caused a spike, but of a different nature. Sea and tropical birds, especially, get caught up in the heavy winds of a hurricane and are displaced from their natural habitat. Many die; others land in out of the way places.

During the storm and a few days after, birders head out, feverishly trying to spot any of these accidental visitors.

Anticipation is fed by message boards, including the local board, SI Naturalist (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SINaturaList/), and eBird (e-bird.org), with worldwide listings by region. Reports revealed a host of tropical and pelagic, or seagoing birds, that were swept into shore with the massive storm system that swept through New York and up the Hudson River at the end of August.

"Some of these birds are never seen from land. They only come to land to nest on little sea islands for a couple of months. You only get to see them on a pelagic bird tour or if you have a fishing buddy take you out," said Seth Wollney, program associate with the museum.

He called in from the Alice Austen House on Monday after Irene had cleared the area.

He was hoping to catch sight of some of them, in particular a white-tailed tropicbird, the "hottest" bird reported in the area, using the Narrows as a flyway back out to sea.

He saw some Wilson storm petrels which had also been seen by Johnson and others. For Johnson, it was a Staten Island life bird, meaning he had seen the bird before, but not in this borough.

As science director, Johnson is the go-to person for the records of what birds have been seen or nested here and when. Isaac Grant's post of bridled terns, a tropical and seagoing bird, from the Alice Austen House was new for the Staten Island checklist, said Johnson. Black and royal terns were also storm highlights.

At the bridge near the Lake Cafe, we saw a green heron. a stocky bird that can elongate its neck, running along the top of the wall in full view, as if posing for pictures – quite uncharacteristic of a bird that is usually shy.

The baseball field was full of ring-billed, and a few laughing, gulls. Male mallards could be seen starting to molt back to their mating plumage. Through the summer they look much like the brown females, that blend into the background and don't call attention to the nest.

Across the lake, we saw an immature black-crowned night heron perched in a tree.

Up the hill at the fire tower, we saw an olive-sided flycatcher, an insect eater that summers in the Adirondacks and winters in New Mexico. Sighted for over a week, it had stayed longer than usual.

"I think a lot of good things are going to show up here," said Johnson of the field restoration that the Parks Department completed. Native trees such as tulip poplar, elm, oak and juniper have been planted along with understory plants such as viburnum.

As we headed back to Martling Pond, a red-tailed hawk was spied perched on a dead branch. A pair has been nesting on the northern side of the park and Ms. Barron reported they had fledged two young.

Upcoming walks

Walks take place from 10 a.m. to noon and are canceled if rain is heavy or steady. Call Ed Johnson, if more information is needed at 718-483-7110.